Inlet tube for use in bait traps



g- 5, 1952 I R. R. ALLEN 2,605,582

INLET TUBE FOR USE IN BAIT TRAPS Filed July 24, 1946 J IE.6' JIE. 8

Patented Aug. 5, 1952 INLET TUBE FonUsE IN-IBAIT"TR-APS Raney R. Allen, mast. 011m Application July 24, 1946; Scr-ial'No. 685 .891;

" 1. Claim. (01. ia-"65) I f j'Ihi's invention relates, to animet tube fori use inabait trap and more particularly to anirilet tube thatwisadapted for useina glassjar, although not necessarily so limited} 1 An object of this inventionis to prov-idea deviceffori'nselrtion' into the mouth r a container, such as a glass jar, which device. is adjustablefor- I various sizes of containers and i adjustable for various sizes of baits, which device is easily produced, quickly assembled and mounted into position and at the same time efiicient, dependable and convenient.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide an inlet tube for use in a bait trap which inlet tube is made from transparent or translucent sheet material held in position so as to form a frustum conical member having an entrance opening for the bait in the apex thereof.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination'thereof Figure '7 is a fragmentary view of a ring for holding th inlet tube in position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character In indicates a glass jar, such as .a Mason jar, having an open capping ring [2 threadedly engaging the threads onv the jar, the opening in the capping ring registering with the open end of the jar and being substantially equal in size. An. inlet tube [4, provided with an enlarged end It and a reduced end I8, is positioned in the mouth of the jar and held in position by the margin of the large end of the inlet tube overlying the mouth of the jar andengaged by the flange of the capping ring l2.

This inlet tube 14 is made from a blank shown in Figure 2. This blank, consisting of an arcuate sector, is preferably stamped from sheet material that is flexible and transparent or translucent. The inlet tube I 4 forms a funnel-shaped opening for the mouth of the jar. If this trap is used for minnows or other types ofbait found in water, it isnecessary to provide an escape for the water displaced by the bait when the bait enters the V a. plurality;- of-apertures 253; adjacentne corner and a single aperture22; adjacent anqthercorner.

A slot, 2141s; found near one corner andranother slot 26. adjacent another corner. A screw,28 is passed-throughthe selected aperture 2!} and the aperture 22, so as to form the large end of the inlettube. Ascrewsp is passed through the slots 2 L-and-2'$,. These screws are held inposition loy suitable nuts, preferably in association with lock washers.

By selecting the proper hole for the screw 28, the proper size of the large'end is thus obtained, so that the inlet tube may be used for various sizes of containers, such as Mason jars and the like.

The ring I2, as may best be seen by referring to Figure '7, is provided with a bead H similar to conventional rings used in association with certain makes of caps for glass jars. The bead has been flattened at l3, so as to form a screw driver edge that may be used in loosening and tightening the screws 28 and 30, thereby expediting the adjustment of the trap to various sizes.

In order to permit the use of the trap with various sizes of bait, the open end, that is, the small end of the inlet tube, may be adjusted by loosening the screw 30 and manipulating the blank so as to change the size of the opening. This is accomplished by the cooperation of the two slots, the one slot 26 adjusting the diameter of the opening'and the transverse slot 26 permitting adjustment of the overlapped layers of the blank. After the opening [8 has been adjusted to the proper size, the screw 39 is again tightened, so as to hold the parts in adjusted shape. The unused apertures 20 and the unused portions of the slot 24 form passages for fluid, whether water or air. Thus, when the bait enters the trap, the displaced fluid flows out through the apertures and slots. Furthermore, the passages expedite the filling, of the trap with water when submerged.

This bait trap may be used for minnows by placing in the jar anything that may attract the bait. Minnows will enter through the reduced end [B and upon getting into the jar, will in all probability fail to escape.

The device may also be used for catching other baits in water, or it may be used in catching insects and bugs, especially at night. If it is used for catching bugs at night, the opening I8 is preferably reduced to the proper size and a flashlight 32, or an electricbulb, may be placed at the bottom of the jar, so as to direct the light towards the open end of the jar. If it is' used in this manner, it is preferable to cover the jar and the flashlight with an opaque material or screen, so that the light will emanate through the open end of the jar, thereby attracting the insects or bugs.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that Within the purview of thi invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claim. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a bait trap, the combination of a threaded Mason jar having an open capping ringthreadedly engaging the threads on said jar and an inlet tube clamped by said ring against the jar, said inlet tube comprising a transparent flexible sheet material having a funnel-shape and clearly defined lateral edges and a series of Openings adjacent the larger end of the tube and a series of apertures adjacent the smaller end of the tube, some of the apertures and openings being adja: cent said lateral edges, said apertures being adapted to overlap each other, securing means extending through said overlapping apertures,

one of said openings adapted to be positioned selectively in alignment with another of said openings, and securing means extending through said aligned openings, some of said openings being adapted to be free of alignment with other of said openings when said latter securing means is in said aligned openings, the free openings being adjacent to and spaced from the cap ing ring and permitting a flow of water therethrough from one side to the other of said funnel.

RANEY R. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 111,291 Williams Jan. 24, 1871 7 719,820 Leigh 1 Feb. 3, 1903 1,139,717 Pipenhagen May 18, 1915 1,362,244 V Farley Dec. 14, 1920 1,538,171 Dailey May 19, 1925 1,577,630 Yerger Mar. 23, 1926 1,837,148 Davis Dec. 15, 1931 2,339,565 Goldberg Jan. 18, 1944 2,425,333 McCarl Aug. 12, 1 947 

